Blitzkrieg Escape from Stalag 69
Review by Nick Peron
I am not easily offended, with that that said, I think this is the best explanation I can give as to why I can watch a film like Blitzkrieg Escape from Stalag 69, a movie that boasts itself as a Nazisploitation film, and see that there is some artistic merit, and it does have a story to tell. It's not about blatant exploitation and it's certainly not a glorification of Nazism. This Keith Croker (The Bloody Ape
Naturally, if Nazi symbolism and themes offend you then you already are not going to want to view this movie. Further, most people probably won't go see a movie that has been endorsed by Uwe Boll chances are you're going to stay away from it like a plague carrying rat... But trust me on this one, Blitzkrieg isn't that bad a film.
As can be expected, a low budget film about War War II is bound to have some rough edges: The locations don't quite fit the era they are trying to represent, set pieces that fit with the time frame are few and sparse, they only have a few authentic (or in some cases correct) uniforms, gun shots are digitally added into the film and the accents... Well the German accents in "Hogan's Heroes" are just as convincing. Obstacles that a veteran independent film viewer worth their weight in Troma movies can over look for some of it's redeeming characteristics.
The story revolves a POW camp led by the cruel and sadistic SS commander Helmet Schultz (played by Charles Esser), decides that he is going to violate every POW rule in the Geneva convention by torturing and experimenting on his prisoners: a group of Allied soldiers from all points of the globe and a recently captured troupe of USO girls. This is partially due to feelings of inadequacy from being unable to make his mother proud and notice him over his much more successful brother, and to also prove to his Nazi superiors that he can unlock the scientific secrets to mass producing a the master race.
In order to get the maximum torture potential possible, Helmet calls in Japanese General Yugosami (Wayne Chang) and Dr. Zuber (Steph Van Vlack.) Naturally, our rag tag group of prisoners of war manage to break free of their captors, enacting a just revenge for the whole lot of sadistic Nazi bastards.
While the film operates on a modest budget, and a lot of potentially great scenes are left to being explains with dialogue and the viewers imagination, Blitzkrieg is entertaining enough to keep the viewer enticed to make it all the way through. Obviously, the film is inspired by the various Nazisploitation movies of the 70's (part of Blitzkrieg's title borrows from the classic Stalag 17
Stick around for the performance by Tatyana Kot (who plays the Russian soldier Natasha in the film, you shouldn't have a problem pointing her out since she's the tantalizing redhead that adorns the cover of the DVD case) who not only will liquefy male (and some female) minds with her nude battle scene in the woods wherein she guns down Nazi soldiers wearing nothing but a pair of knee high combat boots. Prior to that there is a great bathtub sex scene which takes a page right out of I Spit On Your Grave
The movie has some interesting insights on the era, has some very bizarre twists and is purely for the self indulgent exploitation fan who likes a good social commentary slipped in for good measure.
Final word: Blitzkrieg Escape from Stalag 69 is not a movie for the faint of heart, or those with a short attention span, I would recommend it to anyone doesn't mind an offensive old time. If you weren't sold on Uwe Boll's endorsement (and frankly I can't blame you) then hopefully you're sold on mine.
